Hidden Self
As part of my renewed passion for art (after 10 years of hibernation) I am finishing old pieces.
I started this painting as a sophomore in high school. At the time, I was acutely aware of how there was a version of me that everyone saw and reacted to; yet the biggest parts of me - the experiences that shaped who I was - remained hidden. As a high schooler, how do you talk about how every day there was terror in your household? You don't. So I followed my mother Sharmistha's example and painted up a storm. And like many people, I put up a front the best I could. Something I have gotten pretty good at.
Recently I have been thinking about this painting because it applies so well to social media. We all have this "profile" where we decide what we want to share with the world. These profiles are just glimpses into our lives often with very little substance. We see pictures of one another traveling, accomplishing great feats, having babies, loving life… We don't see the mistakes, the fears, the anxieties - the experiences that REALLY shaped who we are. We don't know the true reason someone is strong or conversely prone to a variety of weaknesses.
No matter how many likes we get on a picture, it doesn't help our feelings of loneliness unless we have people who know the hidden parts. I consider myself so fortunate to have those people in my life and even more fortunate that I am slowly growing that tribe.
(7.27.2016)
 I am finishing old pieces. I started this painting as a sophomore in high school. At the time, I was acutely aware of how there was a version of me that everyone saw ...&media=//madebylona.com/cdn/shop/articles/publish_snapshot_600x.jpeg?v=1593727284){kind=link}
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Also in Personal Art Blog
Interactive Murals for Kyruus
Maternity Series - Artist Statement
Color is a focus of my work for a variety of reasons, but the main reason is for healing. My father was an angry and violent man. He took out his rage on his family daily and I took it upon myself to protect my mother and brother from him by becoming the focus of his fury. We didn’t have much, but my mother filled our home with colorful art to bring radiance into an otherwise dark place. I followed in her footsteps and escaped into vibrant art of all shapes and forms. Getting into the flow of mindful art creation has been the single most important part of my healing. I hope to share the happiness that colorful art brings me with others, especially children.
